Cotton growers say the upcoming financial assistance can’t come soon enough

After a last-minute relief effort last session, help is on the way for farmers and ranchers. The exact date is still up in the air, but cotton growers say it cannot come soon enough.

“We’re essentially looking at a March 21st time frame that we would anticipate this money getting out into the countryside. I know that’s been a question from a lot of producers that I have visited with over the last couple of weeks as well as gin managers so that they have a better idea of what to tell their bankers as they go in and prepare for this 2025 season and go in requesting their operating loans,” said Mark Brown.

Since the 2018 Farm Bill, cotton growers have seen their production costs go up by nearly 30 percent. Analysts say this year’s input costs likely will not provide much support.

Related Stories
USDA Undersecretary Luke Lindberg outlines the Farm Bridge Assistance Program and responds to calls from lawmakers and ag leaders for more assistance and expanded trade opportunities for farmers.
Record ethanol production, coupled with stronger demand, supports corn use despite tighter margins elsewhere.
A new maritime biofuels coalition aims to position ocean shipping as a significant growth market for U.S. crops and waste-derived fuels.
Larger operations maintain cost advantages, while softer equipment sales suggest producers are pacing machinery upgrades amid tighter margins.
Sponsored
Golden Harvest’s Corn Technical Product Lead, Todd McRoberts, unveils their line of Northern corn hybrids built for resilience and performance in colder climates.
Transportation access, legal disputes, and fertilizer freight costs will directly influence input pricing and grain movement in 2026.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Alissa White with American Farmland Trust joined us to provide insight into climate resilience efforts and strategies to help farmers manage weather-related risks.
University of Nebraska President Dr. Jeffrey Gold joined us to share practical health and safety guidance for managing respiratory and skin health during the winter season.
Roger McEowen with the Washburn University School of Law joined us to provide legal analysis on key cases shaping the agricultural landscape heading into the year ahead.
NASDA declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer. President Amanda Beal joins us to share NASDA’s new hub, which highlights the impact of women in agriculture worldwide.
Matt Brockman, communications director for the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, joined us to share a preview of the upcoming event.
RFD News correspondent Frank McCaffrey reports from Texas on the ongoing water dispute and its implications for U.S. farmers.
Agriculture Shows
Hosted by Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady and RFD News Markets Specialist Tony St. James, Commodity Talk delivers expert insight into the day’s ag commodity markets just before the CME opens. Only on RFD-TV and Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.
A look at the news, weather and commodities headlines that drove agriculture markets in the past week.
Everything profits from prairie. Soil, air, water — and all kinds of life! Learn how you can improve your land with prairie restoration, cover crops and prairie strips, while growing your bottom line.
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.